Rob Tibbles described the scene: “There are three gritters up here one of which is in a ditch. The road is backed up in either direction and the road is all but impassable. There is a recovery vehicle pulling the gritter out of the ditch with chains. It looks like two wheels have gone into the ditch.”

Devon County Council confirmed the gritter had slipped off the road due to the snowy conditions. A spokesman said: “It happened late Thursday on the road between Lynton to Berry Down.

"The driver was unhurt and no other vehicle was involved.

"We quickly dispatched another gritter to the scene and were able to continue with the gritting route.”